Page 32 of Homecoming

“He didn’t, but the witness recognized the truck as his and identified Keith as the other person there. Apparently, the state police felt the witness ID was enough to charge them since they were seen with her close to where the body was later located.”

“Surely they have to have more than that to charge two people with murder,” Bertha said.

“I’m waiting for the reports, but I don’t want you guys to worry. The case is flimsy from what I’ve seen thus far. I’m hoping I can make it go away quickly.”

“What if you can’t?”

“Then we’ll play it out and hope for the best.”

Chapter

Eight

A knockon the door interrupted their conversation.

Bertha went to answer it.

Dan held back a groan when Kara’s parents walked into the house, looking oddly out of place in the home where Judith had grown up. Whereas Bertha was all down-to-earth modesty, Chuck and Judith were polished from head to toe. As he had the first time he met them, he thought of them as straight from rich people central casting. This time, however, there were dark circles under their eyes and a sense of weariness that hadn’t been there on previous occasions.

He didn’t miss the stricken expression that crossed Kara’s face when she first realized who’d come to visit. She hadn’t had time to properly prepare herself to see them and would feel off her game. Ever since they’d hosted a fancy wedding for Kelly and Matt, there’d been distance between Kara and her parents.

Despite that, Kara stood and went through the motions of hugging them both.

“Oh, look at you, sweetheart,” Chuck said, smiling. “You’re beautiful.”

“Thank you, Dad.”

“Are you feeling well?” Judith asked.

“I’m nauseous and exhausted, but other than that, I’m okay.”

“I was nauseated with all of you,” Judith said. “It’s awful.”

“Yes, it is. Not sure how you went through that eleven times.”

“It was rough. I’m sorry you’re dealing with it. Hopefully, it’ll pass soon. I was usually much better in the third trimester.”

“That’s good to know.”

“Thank you both for being here,” Chuck said. “It means a lot to us that you came when we called.”

Dan shook hands with his father-in-law and accepted an awkward hug from his mother-in-law. “Of course.”

“Listen,” Chuck said, “neither of you owes us anything, so we really do appreciate that you came.”

“Family is family.” Dan appreciated that Chuck understood the situation. Judith was probably another story.

“You’re too kind,” Chuck said.

“Can you sit for a minute?” Bertha asked her daughter and son-in-law.

“We don’t want to interrupt your evening,” Chuck said. “We just wanted to come by and say hello and thank you.”

“It’s okay if you want to sit for a minute,” Kara said.

They settled around Bertha’s scarred kitchen table, where a full lifetime of memories had been made. She opened a beer for Chuck and a bottle of wine for Judith.

“Thanks, Mom,” Judith said.

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